August 13, 2017 -- Sunday's hike was one of those Top-of-the-World kind, where you stand on a summit and get 360º views across the mountain tops, into various valleys below, and in this case, glimpses of both the highest peak of the Swiss Alps (Monte Rosa Massif) and the highest mountain that is 100% on Swiss terrain, the 4545m high Mount Dom.
The ascent to Cimetta from Locarno on Lake Maggiore was by funicular, then cable car, then chair lift, and being a sunny Sunday, there were lots of people going up there. But we were of the few who walked right to the summit of Cima della Trosa, an additional easy 1-hour, 200m climb. From there the plan was to walk 1100m downhill to the village of Mergoscia in the Verzasca Valley. Everything was going well: The weather was perfect, just enough wind so it wasn't too hot, views were stunning. Until I twisted my foot, the first time in almost 4000 km of hiking. Lucky for me, if I placed it carefully it didn't hurt, which was good because we still had 2 hours to go (of the 4-hour hike)!
The slightly sloped trail was a wonderful variety of mountain trail above the tree line, to soft forest trail, to stone steps as we came into the village. And just in time too, as the bus was already waiting at the church square... next one two hours later!
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| The ride up the hill starts with a funicular from Locarno to Madonna del Sasso Church, then a cable car to Cardada. |
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| From Cardada you ride a chair lift to Cimetta, where our hike began. |
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| It's an easy 1-hour walk up to the Cima della Trosa Summit |
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| Perfect hiking weather, not too hot and a little breeze, and wonderful views |
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| Views South past Lake Maggiore to Italy, and West all the way to the Valais Alps |
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| The highest peaks in the Swiss Alps (Monte Rosa Massif and Mount Dom). These are both far to the West in the Valais Alps. |
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| From the summit of Cima della Trosa, you get this view into the Maggia Valley |
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| Lago Maggiore |
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| Looking East, this is the Valley we are going to descend, to Mergoscia in the Verzasca Valley |
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| Descending to Mergoscia in the Verzasca Valley |
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| We enjoy passing through the little mountain hamlets of Rustico houses |
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| Behind this stable is a good place to have lunch. |
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| Lunch time |
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| These lizards are all over the place, they scatter off on all sides when you walk past. I even scared a snake sunning itself on the trail, but it disappeared before I could tell if it was harmless or not |
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| Behind us, Cima Della Trosa, the summit we descended from. |
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| Monti di Cortoi, the last hamlet above Mergoscia |
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| Descending into Mergoscia |
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| The Church in Mergoscia. The bus is already waiting, we have only 10 minutes to spare |
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| Back in the land of palm trees |
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| View over Mergoscia (lower part) and Vogorno Lake, with the famous Dam (they were bungee jumping here this day) |
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| 11 km in four hours, with 1200m descent from Cima della Trosa to Mergoscia |
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| All the hikes we have done in this area in the past four years. |
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